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A personal submission of mine! This one isn't about weight gain or any particular kinks, just two of my main OC's going at in a much better timeline.
Anthony dresses himself up, ready to visit his true love, but is he ready to finally announce his "appreciation" to someone as prestigious as Snudru? Find out by reading ahead (or by clicking for the download button for the PDF)!
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One wonder's what little it takes to find someone that truly appreciates them. And no, he didn't mean face value appreciation, like a thanks for sharing a bit of food with a classmate and most certainly not something so short changed as merely providing a bit of cash to a friend to grab some chocolate from the store. It was something far more intimate, something that a knife could etch upon a tree; names of which would forever be marked next to each other, as horrid as that might've sounded. It was the action before the thought, the compliment before the gratitude, effort before knowing who they were. That was true appreciation and whoever dared to sully such a beautiful word with 'pleasantries' and unlikeness to its definition would soon meet the blunt end of his fist, before getting their head smashed in. Because to him, it meant something to be appreciated so much that there's not only great effort between two parties, but an honest heart to heart gratefulness for each other's existence; to find grandness in each other's company, even if one party opposed his own grandiose nature.
Even if he truly couldn't see what that they saw in him. Anthony was trying his absolute best to equip himself with the best clothing available to his bag of golden trinkets, having one of the best custom tailors work on fitting him in clothing meant for a couple sizes below him. And had it not been for the combined efforts of a couple friendly kobolds and the month spent simply finding clothes that *could* fit him, he'd likely have nothing unique to wear for an event that occurred every decade: The Twelve Dragon Ball. In celebration of Twelve True Dragons being birthed on the same day within similar hours, a Dance of sorts is organized in the royal palace, which felt more like a castle sized tree house, in praise and worship over the grand occasion… Even though it happened centuries before his time and their time, as well as their mother's mother; father's father- He couldn't argue against something like that, especially since he praised a 'mighty God' the Vatican preached loudly, despite full well knowing that this 'God' hasn't made an appearance or gave blessings since his son left the earth.
Gripping hard onto a necklace, with a sparkling cross at the end of its golden chains, Anthony continues to inspect himself in the mirror and he could only grimace. Suspenders, maroon colored straps going over his shoulders with an undershirt of pure white that barely kept his chest back, leading down into blackened oxford bags enclosed around his legs and calves like they were a size down, tidied up with a pair of leather shoes that made his feet feel uncomfortably tight around the edges of his feet; enclosed around his toes like a cage due to not 'fitting them in' earlier like he should've. Moving back up, the bulbous shoulders led down to veiny arms, cufflinks tightening around the wrist and to finish this all off, beneath the neck was a bow tie.
An actual bow tie, cutesy in its soft red look. Anthony looked at it for two seconds, three seconds, along with the folded hair head leading down into what looked like a crashing wave and he could only sigh. "This looks ridiculous man-" He whispered, unable to speak any louder. "You got me dressed up like a small church boy."
"You wanted this look, I merely perfected it!"
"I did not ask for this flimsy looking tie near my neck, it makes me feel- look ridiculous Kewmi!"
"Ridiculous?!" Kewmi, a kobold who was shorter than he was exceptionally fat, screamed in utter disbelief as the fashion accessory was 'insulted'. "I'll ask you once and I'll only ask it once more, what the hell is wrong with my tie?!"
"Bow-tie," Anthony quickly corrected. "And it's too damn cutesy! I'd get side-eyed by too many as it is, so imagine just how quickly I'll be seen just by showing up with something so bright!"
"But it finishes the look!"
"But-"
"Look, C'mere for a sec," With an eyebrow raised, Anthony crouches down, only to have his ear pulled on by stubby claws. "YOU listen here boy, I did NOT waste my TIME and EFFORT into making a perfect replica of that shoddy cloth you brought into my shop only for you to not complete the look just because it makes you look a bit 'cute'. That's the whole point, to showcase the very attributes you keep saying don't exist."
"Besides, you didn't want to try on our traditional garnaments, so you don't get to complain!"
"I would've been naked otherwise you nasty bastard!" Just thinking about it caused him to recoil in disgust. These tribesmen, these kobold's- So used to the idea of being completely bare to the world that they forgot that others might not enjoy the 'comfortability' of having one's privates being casually touched by the winds. Unlike him, most of their more private areas are covered and completely hidden away into a socket, called a 'slit'; like they were all women in hiding! It was the only reason they could get away with wearing clothing that barely did much to cover their bodies, it was the only reason he was able to see so much despite seeing so little- Because a loincloth doesn't leave much room for surprise when some are 'aching' the moment they see him. "Can't believe you don't understand that, especially with how much you put into covering that droop you got down there."
"I do not try, I do. Massive difference! But you made a mistake with how you interpret my intentions, boy!" Lifting the heft up, its scaled plush nature is shown to Anthony's eye's. For his eyes to see, the giant could almost feel the pillowy billowing that meat, cheese and wine had allowed it to gather, blubber pouncing every inch of a bubble gut this tiny reptilian struggled to lift with both hands; forcing a sweat out of the older 'bold before dropping it back to its original position: near the wooden ground. "Haaa- see? You know what that is?"
"Fat?"
"No- Yes, but no! It's a coin, a grand amount of it!"
"... You eat gold coins?"
"No!-"
"Do you need a doctor?" Anthony, with a single hand, lifts the overweight reptile, shaking them profusely to listen to the sound of one too many coins ingested, only for them to hear nothing. "Damn it, it's likely already in your digestive tract Kewmi… Local doc ain't gonna do much besides cut you wide open, you know that right?"
"Except he won't have to!"
"If you wanna deal with the pain of crapping gold out of your ass, sure! Though I think the last guy he dealt with had a certain problem, something with the vast quantity of which nearly tore through the poor 'bolds guts- Bit of a mess really, smelled like the stables-"
"Ok, you can stop now." Sighing, the semi-high pitched kobold walked around Anthony, grabbing an apple from the corner before munching into it. "What I meant to say was that while I'm a bit on the heavy side, the amount of wealth collected is shown in me and on me without making so much as a sound or mention of my hoard! Do you understand what that means?"
"That you're particularly rich?"
"EXACTLY! You and me, we are the 1% of folks in this unclean environment who can afford to lay back and do nothing! Yet here we are, actively moving around to impress the masses of which will soon see us in our grandest!"
"... First things first, I am not nearly as lazy as you might think, nor do I sport a gut the size of which is impeding your movement."
"I know you like 'em' soft boy, don't have to hide it!"
"And second? I am not there to impress them." Anthony remarked, a touch of irritation placed upon their tongue as the gravelly voice whispered. "They're not the one I'm worried about tonight."
"Whaaaat? What do you mean you're not there to impress them?! What the hell you goin' for then?"
"I've already shown what I had to offer in the last meetup I did with the more important folk, so no. I'm not there for them."
"I'm there for… for…"
"A lad? Lassie?"
"..."
"Come on Anthony, it's not exactly difficult to guess why you would even come close to such a place, especially on your break. I know you don't like it much when you're forced to go places, so-"
"Is it Rewie?"
"Rewie?!"
"YES, REWIE! I see how you look at the man, gawking at their 'assets'!"
"Gawking is overstating it! He's a friend, a good friend at that! I wouldn't dare sully such a friendship between the two of us, especially when we're so close! Plus he's a bit… hard to the touch, which as I'll remind you, I already am."
"Yeah, top to bottom might I add?" With eyes as pointed as swords, the Kobold presses none further. "Then Koli? She likes meaty men and last I heard, she's taken a bit of a liking to you!"
"Again, too hard. Love her to death, but it'd be too much for me to handle someone with that sort of fire, especially with one just waiting for a bit of oil to be squirted onto her to then burst into a house destroying monster."
"A bit of fire won't kill you-"
"Annnnnd she's the sister of Rewie and I really don't wanna be on the bad side of that fella- He can't move me much, but those eyes are scary enough on their own to circumvent any idea of talking to that crazy little fireball." And she was completely off limits, not so much because she wasn't at least decent, but more so that her brother would likely find a way to kill Anthony without Koli finding out… somehow. "Besides, today isn't about dancing or dating, It's about showing your appreciation towards those close to you. Believe you'll be doing the same with that lady friend of yours, Kewro right?"
"And to secure a few trade routes with the couple outsiders participating in our long awaited event! But what about you?"
"... I have someone in mind."
"Who?"
"They're uh… it's a Sorcerer!"
The soft 'bold eye ridges rose, claws massaging his double chin. "A magician ey? Didn't think you'd be into co-signing a death waiver to be with someone of that nature, but love is love! Doesn't really matter who you wanna stick your dick into, so- who's the guy- gal you're looking forward to seeing? Holie? Kiolew? Please don't tell me it's that idiot Bobew, his confidence is only matched by his ill-begotten nature and his lackluster approach to anything but the science humans have been pushing for the last three centuries."
He really didn't want to answer it. "Cmon, I won't judge you for your choice!" A lie, for sure, as his pick of the 'horses' available in that particular 'farmhouse' was someone a tad more difficult. "I'm your tailor, your go to merchant for rare commodities locally and worldwide, not to mention your friend! Whoever got you by the ass is obviously a bit important, so tell me who it is!"
"This is a judgment free zone, a housing space including every decision you've made, good or bad! I've heard them all and surely, just surely, you'll keep your good marks up with your next answer!"
"... He's uh- the one you now call 'Grand Sorcerer'."
"Oh- Oh… by the God's, Ant…"
Anthony watched as their disappointment became visible, rolling their eyes as a hand dragged across their face. He couldn't blame them. The magician he spoke about was a despot of a 'man', unable to pull himself away from his sex-filled lifestyle, unable to properly figure out whether or not taking the role of a King among his people was the right choice in life and because of that, ran off to avoid the responsibility of kingship. He was a 'Grand Sorcerer', with magical power and an ego larger than most dragon's, able to keep going even after several mages ran out of 'juice.' He was an alchemist, gifted in the art of potion making, with a cacophony of pretty little bottles that could provide a man an infinite source of energy or the bulldozing strength of a draconian. He was a nymphomaniac, he was a wizard, he was egotistical-
He was the one Anthony adored. "Did I do something wrong in your youth?" What youth?! He was eighteen when he entered! "Did I accidentally drop a brick on your head for you to be infatuated with a whore?"
"HEY, he's quite lovely when you get to know him!"
"As are all the prostitutes by the brothel, but you don't see people trying to fiddle anything more than the holes beneath their tails! You know why?"
"Because they're prostitutes, sex workers who would rather bone you than put a ring on their finger! You understand this right?!" Kewmi bellowed, his 'inner dragon' showing through the baring of their dagger-like teeth. "I can recommend some finer women- Men if that'll get you pumping, but I seriously recommend you look at someone else!'
"The daisy on the mountain is better than the one in the dirt."
"... what?"
Anthony sighs. "Snudru is one of a kind and- Just because you- I do not agree with his lifestyle doesn't mean I can't show him what he means to me, what it means to be his best friend…"
"What it means to be his boyfriend?"
"I…" He could feel it, a rush of blooming roses, beneath his now reddened cheeks. The idea of him being considered something as close as that to Snudru felt invigorating, no matter how impossible that may be. To have those reptilian claws in his hands as they slowly get closer and closer, bodies so close he could feel their breath on his chest… To have him for himself. A dream came true. But as a dream is, that is all it will be: An imaginary space where his thoughts and wants come together to form the opposite of reality, so as much as he would love to say that it is true.… "It is a lovely thought..."
"But?"
"It isn't really… confirmed," Anthony twiddle with his fingers, stepping away from the mirror as the final readjustment to his cloth was done. While they were getting more and more comfortable with one another's presence, especially with how many times Anthony was shown their back and front side on the bed, waiting for him to 'sleep next to him', with his favorite flowers right next to them, there was absolutely no guarantee that Snudru liked him. "As much as I've seen him naked, I do feel as though it is merely to put the 'bone' in me- Nothing more than that."
"Makes sense, considering him as a whole."
"But then sometimes," Anthony opens the door to the outside, letting Kewmi go out first before following behind. "No, let me rephrase myself: Have you ever seen him go to the lengths he did for me for anyone else?"
"Anthony…"
"He saved me, from bleeding out on a stump, from marking it as my final resting place. He brought me here, got yelled at, nearly banished, just to make sure I could live."
"Anthony…"
"And after years of feeling useless, having nothing to provide other than strength… He showed me a pair of sharp irises that seemed to be focused on me. Not the men and women he has stuck a log into for God knows how long, not the few he considered friends and most certainly not for that princess, but for me. Not for what I could provide, not for what gold I could rake in, not for what I could become."
"But for who I am." Anthony softly muttered, sounding almost ghostly as the last word was pronounced with a noticeable lack of vigor. "I haven't seen those eye's look towards anyone else the same, ever, not even to his betrothed. I must show him what he means to me, show him his lost wealth and spent knowledge was worth saving me, otherwise… I… I…"
His hands. They shook, wobbling carelessly without any signs of stopping and his face, pale. He needs to show that the thirteen years Snudru sacrificed for him wasn't in vain, that all the gold; all the favors he pulled for him wasn't for naught, he needs to show him that all the wealth, all the friends, all his dignity lost wasn't just to save someone ungrateful. He has to, he must. The odd feeling of warm, stubby claws grabbed onto his log sized arm, forcing him to turn. "Kewmi?"
"Ant…" Kewmi looked distraught, eye's barely opened with a smile still on their face. Why… Why did they look at him like that? "Try, but expect that it may become an unreciprocated feeling of emotions, especially for someone as strong as you."
"Because unlike them, you're far more honest."
"Now," Changing his tone, it was back to a whimsical whistle. In front of the two was the very same palace, decorated in speckles of gold and dusty diamonds across the stairs going up, with a small reddened carpet with small, slithering indents and feet leading up to the 'palace' he himself would soon be entering. "Remember, there'll be multiple important individuals here, some of which know you by name, of which some you know personally. My recommendation, tailor to flower boy, merchant to royal guard, is to avoid them, especially that Naga princeling."
"Oh come on, Kenneth? He's a fine fellow!"
"Very funny you dirty fuck, didn't realize you were into snakes."
".... But aren't Nagas just kobolds with a longer tail?"
If glares could kill, Anthony would be dead- He could measure the amount of kobold's giving him a death glare with four meter sticks and trust him, twenty of which were likely ready to kill him- Maybe. "You walk upon a fine line between life and death saying that in front of me." A huff of smoke came from their nostrils, before Anthony saw their anger die down. "Nagas are Nagas and kobolds are kobolds, end of story!"
"But-"
"Did I stutter?"
No, he did not. "Good, now remember, they're very important! If they so much as receive a prick on their finger, they'll find someone to blame and guess who they'll be looking at first?"
"The giant with white nails-"
"The giant with white claws." He corrected, although wrong. They only look like claws due to how closely entangled they are to the tip of his fingers, as though they had melted onto his skin. "I'll personally protect my patron with tooth and claw, for you are a brother, but not everyone likes you!"
"Understood- Anything else?"
"Hrmm… You want to dance with Snudru right?"
"To do so would be a dream."
"Then be patient. Princess will likely be hogging and throwing him around to show off what will be her husband in the near future. Please remember that and please don't do anything rash…"
"Because even Snudru can't protect you from a death sentence if you so much as touch a scale on her."
So he couldn't just extradite the meet up and keep the reptile all to himself. Anthony, to the thought, could only slap and drag his hand down his face. Of course he couldn't, why did he think for two seconds that he'd be able to casually meet Snudru under any circumstance? It wasn't like he risked his life and Rewerds just to get some clothing from his side, it wasn't like he'd mentally prepared to exist among a crowd of loud noises and even louder heartbeats, it wasn't like he was here just to show what Snudru meant to him, only to be cucked by what was more akin to a stalker than an actual woman. It was proven again and again that Snudru didn't want to be in that relationship, it was even said by the draconic kobold, yet… "It's like talking to a brick wall with her." Anthony grumbled, holding onto the railing as he slowly walked up the silky smooth stairs with the little ball of sweat, ignoring the panting. "A wonder why Snudru didn't just kick her and leave."
"Jealousy much?"
"W-well…"
"Don't worry, don't worry! You act like I'll kill you! Besides, I can't do that even if I wanted to!"
"Why's that?"
"Because we're here!- Finally-"
Whilst Kew wheezed and kneeled on the floor, Anthony gave himself the chance to look closely into his environment. The walls are lined with stringed tapestry leading into one another by knotted lines of roping, holding a multitude of banners stemming from the different factions of reptiles that resided within the forest; a crown, the wings of a dragon and something relating to a golden saddle, whatever that meant. Tables were strewn apart from one another, mahogany seats replacing the rancid moss filled furniture this place would have otherwise had, with a significant difference on either side. One had regular wooden seats, able to keep even the fatter pseudo draconians above the ground with barely a shake, while the other merely… well, to put it simply-
It was a strange looking seat, plush instead of hardened, malleable to the hands and body to comfort the anthropomorphic snakes as normal seating arrangements couldn't do; acting more as a bed than an actual seat for those wishing for better comfort. And next to each table, to each seat was a ready butler willing to serve, heated meals at the ready on small carts and trays that had been fancied up with tidbits of furnished and polished engraved wood. In his opinion, they could've lined the windows with a bit of moss, hung some vines here and there, possibly got a bit of pottery to make the place a tad more lively and easier to look at- And also smell. But it gets a pass.
Then there were the people- Nagas, Kobolds, Sand Lizards, all equally well-mannered, all equally well dressed and some more so. The 'Sandies' were torn between what looked like a small skirt over their legs, wrapping around their lower bodies and a dress shirt that looked far too overly garnished with gems and other unmatching material to look the part of 'nobility' or 'royalty' if he was speaking more about their King and Queen. The Kobolds were, as said before, wearing the bare minimum, never embarrassed by their genuinely primitive style of clothing choices, despite being given multiple chances within the decade he's lived here to change it into something more presentable, like what he and Kewmi was propping themselves within-
Then there was the Naga's. Considered the lesser of the two, not by Anthony, but by the other two clans, they were the only type of lizard slithering around the tables and chairs with a tail as large and encompassing as the many nobles that ran amok around the grand party; gorging on whatever meat they could get their grimy hands on. Some were dressed quite extensively, suits covering pectorals and bellies other tribe's decided against, neatly buttoned together with a colorful tie running down the middle of their chests; no pants to be seen as it would, at least to Anthony's mind, suffocate their tails as the day went on, with a small hat to end it off. Some took to an overtly different clothing technique, with… an odd looking buttoned shirt, colored pink, with small, confusing tree's plastered across the outfit itself; bent over like it had a spinal injury. They were holding white 'bags' that barely made any noise as they dug through them, pulling out what Anthony could only discern as a weird looking meat patty placed between a handful of veggies and two buns. All foreign, from what he could understand. He could also see that most of those funky shirts wearing fork tongues were, at the very least, chunky. Most of the given snakes with blackened sunglasses and pink shirts were sporting flaccid moobs and a guttural paunch making sounds that rebounded constantly in the back of Anthony's head; soft scaled tails rubbing against anything and everyone that came across their extensive docks.
Naga's are known to be voracious eaters, especially since their particular species required a steady stream of meat and some veggies in order to not starve, but they always kept to a uniformly leaner look; slender, thin. They had curves, yes, but their curves were of an equilibrium, with each side of their body small and gentle, leading to a lengthy backside that protruded around the red carpeting, not lumps and bumps as it reached the tail, which of course, was horizontally widened to two tree logs worth of given girth. And coexisting next to them was their prince-
Kenneth, who's sharp eyes only grew sharper when his ninety degree vision caught sight of him. A wicked smile he saw, before the prince began to speedily make his way over to him. "I was wondering if you'd be around, little flower." Romantically resounding was that voice, harmoniously well-spoken dialect being the forefront of what Anthony could understand as English. Nothing near British or the Scots, but something akin to what his mother used and perfected. His hands were cupped by a pair of flowery claws, reddish green in its coloration and dubiously trying to tip-toe a bit closer with a coiling tail wrapping around his body. "The years haven't changed you much. I had thought you'd be a tad more, hmm… smaller."
"That was nearly two years ago, Prince-" Hearing a hiss beginning, he coughs into his hand. "Ken, it's been long enough for some change, has it not?"
"Hardly true my unyielding little daisy! I remember your warmth and it certainly wasn't bursting with delight this time around~"
"It's a human thing-"
"It's a you thing." Kenneth's hands kept prodding around his body, 'slipping' underneath the shirt to give himself a 'glance' of what was new. "Bit of a bulge here and there, dare I say muscle. You've always been a bit toned, but this is a bit extreme, no?"
"It comes with the trade."
"If that were so, I'd be a tad more distracted by the humans I've met on the other side of the world instead of the mossy hammock in front of me~ You're a one-of-a-kind, you know?"
Anthony chuckled nervously. "Of course, of course…" The compliments were a bit much for him, even as generally accepting of it as he usually is. "Perhaps you'd like to talk about your adventures?"
"Over a Dance?"
Anthony stares wide eyed. "I had to ask! Might've entered with a kobold, but I know your taste in women… and men."
"He isn't what I'd call a 'date.'" Nodding towards somewhere behind, Anthony swivels around to see his tailor talking it out with that same aforementioned kobold before, drink in hand, who were seemingly interested in his fashion sense and as he could hear, wanting to get a 'closer view' of the cloth he and Anthony adorned. "Bit shoddy isn't he? Got a bit of a stain near his armpits and below the droop."
"With no need to be a guard or a magician, the people have taken small-time hobbies and made them into jobs! How I managed to get my clothing resized, how my friend managed to finally stabilize himself."
"So I'd like you to keep from looking at him too closely." Especially with those eyes. Much as he liked this princeling, those irises were digging into Kewmi's body like a spear, dissecting every part of their rotund body as if they were prey. "He does not deserve such scrutiny, so change those eye's, give breaks to the man who survived the horde."
"Besides, if you… wanted to dance, you should've just said so! I wouldn't deny a bit of time with a friend, especially when I'm not working!"
"Wouldn't you usually deny it and move on?"
"Usually, I'd be protecting the royal party over yonder and making sure they aren't even scratched, but I managed to change shifts with Rewie due to wanting to actually enjoy one of these days without much of any worry-"
"Then why come here?"
"Isn't it obvious? Can't let Kewmi go on his own, plus Snudru is here! I let that maniac do as he pleases and I can guarantee the day will end in much of everyone being riled up."
"It wouldn't be much of a celebration if he wasn't stirring up the population with any of his crazy antics would it?"
"Ha… No it wouldn't."
It definitely wouldn’t. Those antics are what keeps him from sleeping in the middle of work, as the boredom of sitting in an area for an extended period of time catches up to him. Afterall, imagination can only take a man so far. "Then perhaps you wouldn't mind it much if I took you along for a small stroll?" A stroll? "I see your confusion, let me be clearer-"
Anthony felt his hands being gripped, his veins pressed down upon as the Naga gathered closer, enough to smell the bread crumbs from their breath. "I would like it if you could partake in a dance with me when the event begins, perhaps under the guise of moonlight near the soft patches of flowery you enjoy taking care of? Nothing too serious, just a small outing from all the commotion which I see is bothering you…"
"Just us, no one else to interrupt our little outing…"
Ah, that's what he wanted. Anthony was able to perceive anything around him that had a heartbeat, even those colder than the Atlantic Ocean. Doesn't matter how low the beat drums along the zip zapping lines on a sensor or how it speeds forth without much of any pause, his ears could grab onto it and mixed in with the smell of sweat, the twitching of the maw, the almost watery irises acting so cutesy… and he could tell where this was going. Anthony needed to shut him down before this goes any further, before they get the wrong idea of what serenade Anthony would play for him, because as much as he liked Kenneth…
He simply loved that boy over yonder. The lights between Anthony's and Kenneth's hands shut down, skipping over the tables, the food, the people and right over to the stage to light up a podium. Dressed in reddish orange, with a tint of gold dressing the sides and keeping all that color within, was a podium with steps for those of a shorter disposition, like most of these little reptiles were. It was soon kicked away, dropped onto the floor for one of the servant's to pick up and run off with, by the only one with any height to stand by with. His want, his need, his cuddly little snootball, the flower upon that very mountain… Snudru.
"Now, everyone, focus up here, on me!" There it was. Beautifully luscious in its tone, the bounty of an even decibel, like a well tuned piano, heavy-set ringing in the back of his head leading into an intoxicating heavy chore. The horns on the forehead, leading back with a small curve, eight extras following suit; smaller in size and touching the forehead and eye ridges. It touched the rising cheeks and expanded along with the slight curve of their grinning maw, orange scuttles leading down the belly, thighs and tail as thick as a tree log; the cloth hiding beneath an engrossing secret just waiting to pop out from beneath at any moment… God help Anthony, for his eyes sparked of beating hearts. "I understand that we've enjoyed ourselves a bit, ate too much and all too likely puked in the back… BUT we are not done!"
"As the banquet finishes and our mouths are stuffed, we should move to the next activity that I'm sure will have the floor filled with puke- ow, hey-" Pulling on the ears, with a scowl all too comparable to a cat, was another one of famed royalty. Five inches from being Snudrus height, portly juddering grabbing the hearts of many around, with earrings and jewels decorating her emerald necklace, ram horns and elongated ears, was a princess- Not a queen, as she was still alive, sitting herself behind with the king by her side, but someone coming close to the role. "Nomli, you're gonna rip my ear off!"
"Apologies! My charming husband hasn't learned what tact is since he's been ignoring his lessons in professionalism! A king without a head, I'd say."
"Awfully rude, especially since I'm helping you ditch those classes."
"Not when I'm the one bringing you books silly!~"
"In any case, if you haven't already been welcomed by our astute butlers and assistants, welcome to the long awaited ball, which we, the Tobellions, have been granted the pleasure of holding this decade long occasion within our own home!" Rhythmic clapping emanated from the front and back, with light cheers to follow. "Now, I believe we are partly due for a dance, to celebrate this event we've been enjoying since two centuries before! Now, I won't bug you much, especially since I know some of us have stuffed ourselves full like our local competitive rib snatcher, Mr. Dewlet. Wouldn't want any of us to cause a 'mess', much like this little rascal right next to me has said, in his ever so brutish tone!"
"Thirty minutes should be enough for any digestive issues to be covered, should there be any! Find someone, group yourselves and reconvene back in the center stagelight. In the meanwhile-"
"Can someone please take Mr. Dewlet out before he tries to take another munch out of the deer carcass?" Snudru interrupts, pointing at a bloated green scaled Kobold, buttons popped and well nearing their way to be undressed by their own reddening 'pot' of 'gold'. "A good man, I'd like to add, with a decent body to boot despite their utter lack of control when it comes to feasting, however, I would prefer to not see a man pop before my eyes when I had just come back from the most amazing dinner I've had in a long time, with the family no less!"
Without a moment's notice, the Kobold, with partial assistance between six different men scantily dressed, dipped out of the ballroom, their hide never to be seen again. And with that, everyone split apart, taking the chance to convene with those they had wished to dance with, while the two taking center stage tried to whisper to one another. "You're joking right?" She scowled, her blazing fury not allowing her to hear even Anthony's footsteps as he walked up creaking stairs. "He may be greasy, but that was no way to get him out and back into his home!"
"You were gonna do it anyway!"
"Yes, but not embarrass him!"
"He can't be embarrassed, that's an impossible feat luv! He's a walking pile of lard! How embarrassed can a man get when half the clothes they wear get shredded at every competition, at every banquet?"
"He may not be able to show it under those flabby cheeks of his, but he has plenty of reason to be embarrassed when he gets kicked out by royalty."
"Well, I'm no king, but even I have the brains to realize that a man that size has more food in their stomach than cells in their brain. He won't be thinking much of today when he was so close to a food coma anyhow."
"Except he will." Snudru's head turned around like it had been snapped, raised up to its limits to meet the lightest blues and darkest of red irises. "Maybe I wasn't clear before, but just because someone is reaching a limit, it does not mean you get to outright kick them out, especially when it comes to people like him."
"Anthony?!"
"Oh my word!" Cheery, Nomli's earrings jittered, ringing in the back of Anthony's ears. As per usual, her voice was as soft as a dandelion. "I thought it was funny how you've taken time away on such an occasion, especially when you've been designated as our Grand Protector!"
"Sorry Princess, I-" His body jittered slightly to their stare. Slamming a fist into his chest, he stands tall. "Nomli, apologies. Usually I'd be in defense of your position for every moment I can stay up, but today-"
A claw rose to his mouth. "You wanted to celebrate, I understand. It's not every day a human gets to enjoy one of our many holiday's, so- It isn't much of a surprise to see you not take off for today and leave Rewert to assist me in any of my endeavors." Ah, so she understood why he wanted to- "However, it is confusing for me to see both my guardsmen within the same local as me, especially when my most favorite of the two," She grabs his ears, pinching it slightly. "Is just hanging about with the rest of the cast like you're a side piece! Did my father bring you into our little event to offer more protection for me?"
"Nah. Not even your mother could convince me to stick around if it was time for my break. Besides… You know these ears of mine are good."
"Good enough for you to close your eyes on the job as I could remember!"
"W-well…"
"Let loose on him, he was busy managing my shop." Snudru looked up to him, eye's sparkling, eying him up from the shoes he wore to the little bowtie near his neck. Two plated arms wrapped around his waist, a maw pointing and nearing his cheek. “I thought you were busy getting yourself nice and settled in the house?! What happened to ‘relaxing the day off before heading back into work’?”
“This is relaxing, Snudru! Can’t get more relaxing than having a bit of fun at an event right?”
“Relaxing my ass-”
“SNUDRU, THAT IS RUDE!”
“What’s with the clothes too?” Completely ignoring what was supposed to be his lady, he begins walking around Anthony, eying him up. From the black leather oxfords, the blackened pants tight around his calves and thighs, to the colors and straps riding his shoulder… and ending at the tie. Snudru’s eyes could barely take themselves away, tail slowly beginning to swivel left and right across the slowly wrinkling red carpet. “By the god’s… You look- Who dressed you like this?!”
"Kewmi, my tailor! He's been helping me, alongside Rewie and the three brothers, with designing the clothing to my specific wants and needs! Why, you don't like?"
No response. Either he did like it or the tinted pink on his cheeks and the rapid heartbeat was closing in on a heart attack- "I think you look stunning!" Nomli spoke up first, complimenting the cloth with a smile and by giving his little bowtie a pinch. "Hrmm- Though not our usual garbs, I can see how your people would take to wearing this to a special occasion! What do you call this?"
"B-bowtie… Told Kewmi the bowtie was too much and he was still adamant about me wearing it to 'match' the style."
"Well, it certainly isn't something I'd expect to see on a man like you, but no matter!"
"You look good friend." That smile. Shining like a million rays hitting a single flower at once. Why couldn't she be unlikable? "Now, you must tell me! What made you dress yourself in such clothing? Not shoddy, I can see Kewmi's work from a mile away, especially with his utter fascination with some wigglers he called a 'silkworm colony', but surely you had options?"
"Well- I was between this and something more… Your style. What would you have chosen?"
"This, though I suppose many others would prefer you a tad more naked rather than being fashionably well-dressed for the occasion."
"Y-yeah…"
"It would've looked adorable to see little ol' Ant dance with that skimpy clothing you Kobolds oh so love wearing!" Whipping his head around, his eyes dig into Kenneth. "Well, don't go killing me with those eyes, you know I'm right."
"Prince Kenneth, you know well that he doesn't like it when he's forced to dress in such a fashion."
"Yes yes, it's one of the first things you come to learn about this cuuuute little hammock~ He's a quilt, not a blanket."
"The hell is that supposed to mean?!"
"Thickly covered, quite warm, yet too heavy~"
'How could I strangle a snake without anyone noticing.' He immediately thought, with a harsh red running across his cheeks as he looked away. "See? Cute!"
"You're torturing the boy without even knowing it…"
"Torturing with compliments? Haven't heard that one before, must be something else you've made up on the spot!"
"And what's that supposed to mean?"
Oh boy, not again. "Well, as it would have it, I have a complaint about one of your rules regarding this ceremonious occasion! It's that stinking wine you have placed all around in those bowls!" Anthony grabs Snudru and along with them, begins to slowly dip out of the conversation and right behind the curtains. "To my understanding, you and I do mean you, not your mother or your father, have decided to rule out any beverages regarding any proper liquids! Why is that?
"... Why else? You're not supposed to be drunk!"
"I'm not??? Then what am I celebrating, my grandmother's hatchday? How am I supposed to celebrate without something to drink along with what I'm eating? I'll have you know, the twelve True Dragons wouldn't appreciate this!"
"They would by keeping our minds aloof enough to be able to see straight! How do you celebrate without having your mind as straight as an arrow?!"
"That's called being shallow princess. No dragon would dissuade his people from being rightfully happy on their day of birth!"
"Shallow?! I'm preventing you imbeciles from beginning a God forsaken tirade across the entire room! Do you realize what your people have consistently done ever since this tradition has started!?"
"Oh do tell me!"
"Your people have proven themselves to be a danger to many when under the influence! Like a bunch of no good drunken idiots that would sooner crash this room to the ground than actually do anything in their name!"
"You could do with being less sober yourself, considering how much of a stick up you are- You sure you aren't getting plugged up by some stomach issues or is it the dick that's turned you sideways?"
"Wine is a perfectly good alternative."
"... You call that weak sweet shit I could buy for some copper an alternative?"
"Did you just call it weak?!"
"Yeah, I did."
"It is our crowning-"
"Achievement, yeah. Doesn't mean it's good."
It begins with a twitch, the tail going rigid, the face scrunching up… "THATS IT!" Annnnd out began the cat fight. He sighs. He figured this would happen. Those two mix together as well as oil and water, especially when it comes to wine tasting and whatever gunk that snake loves guzzling down. The wine around these parts tended to be sweeter than usual, due to most Kobolds focusing all their studies into alchemy and winery rather than fighting. That, along with the grape farms, which have always been known to be almost 70% plumper than what his kind could ever make and it was no wonder why most of their people were on the chunkier side of things. It was a staple of these people, despite dressing like complete and utter nudists. Even he liked it, for it tasted extra sweet, like chocolate! For the snake to complain about their drinks for the booze his people have been trying to sell out- Well-
It's a travesty at its best, an attack on their people. But it didn't matter. "Hehe… Reptile secured." This wasn't the first time, nor would it be the last. He's just glad he managed to, for… lack of better words, nab the prince from his seat from above the clouds. He looks down below, measuring the distance. "20 stories high… I've done higher." Dropping down from the balcony above with his favorite little reptile, he takes a gander at the Kobold, who's looking into his eyes. "Snudru, it's almost time to- Mmmh?!"
"Mmmh?- Mmm… Mmmm~"
Supple, wet and tainted. Anthony could taste a bit of pork chops on their tongue, with something… sugary, perhaps cherry? Was he drunk? Pulling away, his eyes met with Snudru’s. "You're… Not drunk?"
"Nope."
"But you just-"
"I did." He responds quickly, without any of that drunken stupor Anthony thought Snudru would've had. Then… "My mind ain't messy either. Haven't been druggin' up much since nine years back, even on occasions like this one."
"I blame you for that y’know."
Well- "I'm joking." Snudru leaped off the man's arms, now face to hip. He raises his left hand up to Anthony. The giant grabs it and as soon as he does, they begin walking. "I never thought you'd be ballsy enough to try and kidnap me."
"It wasn't technically a kidnapping if the kidnapped is talking."
"You do realize what you've done right? Just because those two are fighting, doesn't really give you the right to just grab and go like you're in a rush to get home."
"I do and I- Honestly don't care. Not like you like her much."
"When a lady like herself is needy, a man like me must provide!"
"Last I heard, you were called a whore by Kewmi. Dunno about you, but I'd consider having the title of nymphomaniac makes it plenty clear that you're everything but."
"Like you care~ Last I heard, you were throwing yourself into every corner of the world just to dress oh so fine for little ol' me!"
"Besides, you fucked me first." Anthony rolled his eyes. "Oh come on, don't tell me you weren't thinking of that one little incident!"
"I blame your mother for coming in on us like that."
"She cares for me and, as you know, for you as well."
"A little too much."
"Was it not at least funny?"
"It most CERTAINLY wasn't! I had to jump out the window-"
"You didn't have to-"
"With you on top of me-"
"It was a wondrous experience~"
"AND SPEAR US TOWARDS THE NEAREST TREE NAKED BEFORE ANYONE COULD CATCH A GLIMPSE!" Between the constant moaning, his legs becoming weaker and weaker with every juggle of this damnable Kobold and attempting to keep them out of the eyes of many… Anthony growled. "Like trying to dance around an active volcano!"
"With you being the volcano~ But seriously, you were worried about nothing! Soon as we came back, she was more crazed about how damaged we both might've been from the fall rather than you plowing my backside."
"She still asked questions."
"Yeah, because her adoptive and blood son were raw dogging it in the bedroom, shaking the entire fucking house like there was a damn earthquake happening. You gotta understand the circumstances behind each action before you panic, you know this!"
"..."
"But I'm not angry at you. No, I'm uh- Happy."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Between politics, managing our relations with the two other tribe's and micromanaging the other sorcerer's, it's… tiring. Combined with the neediness of Nomli and her wanting to make a family, it's like I'm fighting against a tsunami."
"Do you even know what a tsunami is?"
"That's not the point. However, what I'm trying to say is… Thank the gods you got me out of there before I was forced to put on a smile."
"It is tiring, even with my energy." Anthony strengthens his grip, earning the attention and smile of this lil old reptile. "Now, you wanted to dance right?"
"How did ya figure?"
"Dude, you're dressed to the nines and you're usually very lazy unless you're tending to your garden. If I didn't guess right, I'd have to let everyone else get their turn at sticking it into me."
Snudru stops before a… giant bush? Anthony looked to the left and right and all he could see was a line of grassy walls with thorns ready to prick at any one person. But with the twist of a finger and a slight push, what was a wall of sharpened protrusions ready to slice a man apart, now open for the eye's to gaze further into its prestige. "Make sure no one follows us." Three tiny reptilians came out of nowhere, mimicking the color of the rainbow. Anthony recognized them as the trio who had helped him, but before he could even wave a hand, they dipped under his legs, using their own magics to close the 'door' they had just entered through. "I knew you were gonna try to ask me out. You looooove me~ So I decided to ask that same trio that helped you get out of our village to build me a proper local to get into a dance."
No kidding. They were surrounded by greenery fifteen to twenty feet tall each, as thorny as the last, with no entrances or exits besides the sky. Besides the giant stump, there was hardly much to penetrate this area with anything less than flight or some ability to climb… last he checked, most of those chunky scalies could barely stand. "It's uh- Wow, I can see the damn moon!" Even the balcony they were at before was in view! Well, barely, but still! "Can they see us?"
"Anthony, your eyes are the only pair I know that can see that far and can still function when someone comes close. Don't worry, we're safe. And while we're safe," The bell rings, "Mind leading the way, Oh Ant-Toe-Nay?"
"That's not even how you pronounce my name!"
"Let it slide this one time dumbass."
"Yeah yeah."
Alright. Then let the dance begin. Fast and quick. He put his hands together with Snudrus, interlocking their fingers together. One step forward leading into another, slightly pushing Snudru heavily on the right. The confident little reptile sets his left foot back. Anthony led with his left, then right, before backing up. Again he follows. Again, and again he repeats the steps, before pulling Snudru close to him. He could feel their breath, their speeding heartbeat. The steaming little shit was already exhausted. No matter. He pushes them away, extending them all the way back as much as his arm could do, before slowly pulling them back into a spin, three times, before raising them up to the air and setting them back down.
"Again." Back and forth, frontwards, then side to side, pivoting his foot to make sure he doesn't step on Snudrus own or his tail. He slides himself around and around, before ending up where Snudru once was and vice versa. He begins to pick up the beat, spinning the reptile around and around, tossing them backwards, spinning them while hoisting their body into the air, dropping them down, picking them up. He steps back and Snudru follows. He steps forward and Snudru follows. The sweat fell down the man's face, but they kept going. Their heart pumped, but they still moved.
The dirt below them was grinding along with their feet, tearing away, grass shifting along with their pivoting feet. The moon shines on them. It is time. He repeats the steps. Forward, backwards, forward, backwards, extend, pull back into a spin, raising them into the air, dropping them down, then pushing away before pulling them back again into a spin and then… a dip. Snudru hangs on the supporting arm of Anthony's thick forearm, right hand still attached to Anthony's own. Snudru huffs, chest rapidly going up and down, unable to control his breathing. Anthony only smiled.
"I love you."
He had been waiting for this moment for nine years, three months, nineteen days, four hours and fifteen minutes. He awaited, for what seemed like an eternity, staring into the surprised eyes of Snudru, watching as they slowly fell down with a smile as bright as the evening sun. He could measure their heart, listening to the rapid, yet rhythmic beat, as their maw slowly opened to the four words he had wanted to hear for so long, for what he felt for Snudru…
And what Snudru felt for him.
"I love you too."
Category Story / All
Species Unspecified / Any
Gender Male
Size 120 x 67px
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